by Viswanathan Subramanian
[box]Taking the discussion on memory, mind and world forward, here’s the fourth part to the series on the nature of the human mind and the ego. This month, Viswanathan Subramanian explores another interesting question, ‘Does the world really exist?’[/box]Normally religions postulate three principles – world, soul and God. Such multiple principles, however, come into existence only after the assumption of ‘ego’. When the very reality of ego is questioned, the three principles fall into nothingness.
Ego arises from wrong knowledge, which rises in the limited form of “I am the body.” When there is sincere focusing on the question “What is the ego?”, the phantom of ego is in fact not at all there! There is only ever-present consciousness. World, soul and God are but imaginations in this consciousness.
Only when the ego rises, all thought forms are engendered and the physical world around us is seen. Thus, when the unreality of the world (as an independent entity) is understood, there is no use in enquiring whether the world is an absolutely real or imaginary appearance, whether it has intelligence or whether it is insentient or whether it is happiness or misery.
Dismiss all these enquiries of the world. Forget the world. Catch and be aware of the ‘I’ which seeks to know the truth of the world. This reveals the supreme consciousness, the one without a second. There is absolutely no scope for doubts to arise, as there is no doubter in fact, in the first instance.
Ramana Maharishi’s ‘Ulladu Narpadu’ verses 5 and 6 reveal the unreality of the ego:
The basic ego is none other than the “I am the body” idea. But body is a form composed of five sheaths. The world which is seen is nothing other than the form of the five sense-knowledges (sight, sound, smell, taste and touch). These five sense-knowledges are sensations (known) to the five sense-organs. Since the one mind (or the mind alone) knows the world through the five sense-organs, say, without the mind, does the world exist?
In the absence of the mind which perceives it, does any such thing as the world exist? Hence the world depends for its seeming existence upon the mind. Thus, the experience, which results from Self-enquiry is the knowledge that the mind and world have never truly come into existence and that the one unborn and unchanging Self alone truly exists. This experience is the Supreme and Absolute Truth.
(Source: Sri Ramanopadesa Noonmalai translated by Michael James with inputs by Sadhu Om)
What comes to mind here is Sri Nochur Venkatraman’s observations on ego in his book, “In the Still Lake of Contemplation”:
The ego is ‘mysterious offshoot’ ‘me’ with all its desires, ambitions, pretensions, assumptions and above all, a tremendous thirst to thrive as an individual. This ego is a ghost and not real. Stop having a tussle with this non-existing appearance. Look beyond. Peep through the ego me, you will see that the ego is only a film which covers the light behind. We mistake the names and forms shown by the film as real. So, look through the ‘me’ and see the infinite divine Self behind. Hold on to the real, the shadow will naturally disappear.
Viswanathan Subramanian is a retired banker who is enjoying retirement life pursuing his interests. He loves poring over business newspapers and journals and making notes. Spirituality also interests him, and so a good number of Sri Ramana Maharishi’s and Jiddu Krishnamurthy’s books find space in his bookshelf. He is extremely passionate about movies and music too. You are sure to find some good old English movie DVDs and an enormous collection of old mp3 Hindi and Tamil songs at his place!
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